The LIONS (Liberty, Intelligence, Our Nation's Safety) was founded in 1917, in Chicago, Illinois. It began with businessmen wanting to give back to their community. The motto of the Lions became, and still is, "We Serve".
In 1925, Helen Keller asked the Lions to become "knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness." Her request inspired the Lions to focus on helping people with sight and sound needs.
The Lions Club International is currently the largest service organization in the world, with 1.35 million members in 46,000 clubs, in 206 countries. Lions help people receive glasses and hearing aids, support victims of natural disasters, recycle glasses, build parks for children, and provide many other needed services.
In the last five years, the Galena Lions Club has donated over $100,000 for the needs of local community organizations, including:
The Galena ARC
United Churches of Galena
The Food Pantry
Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts
Toys for Tots
Red Cross of Northwest Illinois
Galena Area Emergency Medical Services
Safe Haven
Tyler's Justice Center
Galena Stauss Community Care Center
and 6th grade field trips!
In the last five years, The Galena Lions Club has donated over $60,000 to sight and hearing causes, such as individuals in need of eye exams, glasses, hearing aids, and cataract surgery.
Club members also donated viewing scopes for enjoying the beautiful landscapes at Horseshoe mound, as well as audio books for The Galena Public Library.
In the last five years, the club has given $36,000 in scholarships to students pursuing an education that will lead to an occupation in the fields of sight and hearing.
The Galena Lions Club has also built kiosks at the city owned Gateway Park and horseshoe Mound to provide information sights for the public.
In five years, The Galena Lions club has donated over $30,000 to to various state, national, and international needs, such as: the Leader Dog Program of Rochester Hills, Michigan, the Illinois Eye Bank, the Lions of Illinois Foundation, Camp Lions, and disaster relief in several different areas of the state, country, and world.
Our mission is to serve our community by providing voluntary services and financial assistance, especially in the areas of sight and hearing, within an atmosphere of fellowship and fun, and in keeping with the Lions' traditions of community involvement, international cooperation, and environmental protection.
We would be remiss not to remember Ronna Duckwitz, who painted and donated her beloved wiener dog artwork for our Annual Oktoberfest. She painted joyous dachshunds that have brought smiles to our faces and raised money that helped so many in our community.
Help conserve sight by donating your usable eyeglasses to children and adults throughout the world. Eyeglasses donated to Lions Clubs help millions to experience corrected vision for the first time, enabling them to read, attend school, gain employment, and take care of their families. It is estimated that worldwide Lions Clubs collect more than 20 million pairs of glasses each year.
All types of useable eyeglasses and sunglasses, prescription and non-prescription, are accepted. Once donated, eyeglasses are cleaned and classified. The eyeglasses are then distributed, free of charge, to people in need.
The Galena Lions club is always ready to accept eyeglass donations at our Galena Oktoberfest and Pancake Breakfast.
Lions Recycle for Sight drop boxes are conveniently located throughout Galena at the following locations:
Dupaco Community Credit Union
11375 Oldenburg Lane
Illinois Bank & Trust
716 South Bench Street
Emmy Lou's Cafe
11347 Oldenburg Lane
First Community Bank of Galena
101 Exchange Street
Medical Associates Eye Clinic
10988 Bartell Boulevard
Tammy's Piggly Wiggly
997 Galena Square Drive
Galena Elks Club
123 North Main Street
Every year in the fall, you'll find Galena Lions Club members out in force selling our famed Lions mints and collecting donations. Our 2022 Candy Day was on October 29th, and it was our best year yet for donations. Our members are thankful for the support of those who were willing to give.
Our next Candy Day will be held on October 28th, 2023. We will be collecting at Tammy's Piggly Wiggly, as well as the downtown intersection of Main Street and Green Street. Stop down to give to a worthy cause and freshen your breath.
When the club is able to arrange it, a bus comes to the area for one day to give free screenings to people in the community. Participants will find out how to sign up from articles in the local newspapers and flyers around town.
The screening bus parks in the Walmart parking lot off of Highway 20 and walk-ins are welcome.
Copyright © 2023 Galena Lions Club - Galena, Illinois - All Rights Reserved.
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